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40 Facts About Dennis Thurman

1.

Dennis Lee Thurman was born on April 13,1956 and is an American football coach and former player who currently serves as the defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach for Hawaii.

2.

Dennis Thurman is a former coach in the National Football League for the Phoenix Cardinals, the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets, and in the Alliance of American Football for the Memphis Express.

3.

Dennis Thurman played as a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys and the St Louis Cardinals.

4.

Dennis Thurman attended Santa Monica High School, where he was a quarterback and defensive back.

5.

Dennis Thurman was recruited by major league baseball teams and to play college basketball.

6.

Dennis Thurman accepted a football scholarship from the University of Southern California.

7.

Dennis Thurman played for John McKay and later for John Robinson.

8.

Dennis Thurman led the nation with in interception return yardage.

9.

Dennis Thurman led the team with 17 punts for 68 yards.

10.

Dennis Thurman was named the team's MVP and its Defensive Player of the Year.

11.

Dennis Thurman played in the 1978 Senior Bowl and was a Playboy Pre-season All-American.

12.

Dennis Thurman is tied for sixth in school history with 13 interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

13.

Dennis Thurman had 77 tackles, six pass deflections and seven fumble recoveries.

14.

Dennis Thurman was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 11th round of the 1978 NFL draft, after dropping because he was considered too small and slow to play professional football.

15.

Dennis Thurman finished the season with 20 tackles and 2 interceptions.

16.

Dennis Thurman played strong safety in place of an injured Randy Hughes.

17.

Dennis Thurman started at cornerback in the season finale against the Washington Redskins.

18.

Dennis Thurman had 37 tackles, one fumble recovery, one interception in the regular season and one in the divisional playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams.

19.

Dennis Thurman had 101 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.

20.

In 1981, after Charlie Waters retired, cornerback Benny Barnes was moved to strong safety and rookie Michael Downs to free safety, so Dennis Thurman became the starter at right cornerback.

21.

Dennis Thurman registered 76 tackles, one fumble recovery and 9 interceptions, which was second on the team to Everson Walls' 11 picks.

22.

Dennis Thurman returned a 60-yard interception for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings.

23.

Dennis Thurman tied a club and an NFC playoff record with 3 interceptions, including a 39-yard return for touchdown to clinch a victory in the playoffs second round against the Green Bay Packers.

24.

Dennis Thurman scored his fourth career touchdown when he recovered a fumble against the St Louis Cardinals.

25.

Dennis Thurman registered 34 tackles and 5 interceptions.

26.

Dennis Thurman posted 41 tackles and 5 interceptions.

27.

Dennis Thurman left with a franchise record of career 4 interceptions returned for touchdowns, he ranked fourth in regular season career interceptions, second in playoff interceptions and third in interception return yardage.

28.

Dennis Thurman never missed a game during his 137-game career and finished with 36 interceptions, which he returned for 562 yards and four touchdowns, while recovering seven fumbles.

29.

Dennis Thurman made his NFL coaching debut with the Arizona Cardinals, known at the time as the Phoenix Cardinals, coaching defensive backs for two seasons.

30.

Dennis Thurman coached from 1993 to 2000 for his alma mater, the USC Trojans where he mentored future NFLers Chris Cash, Kris Richard, Daylon McCutcheon, Brian Kelly and Troy Polamalu.

31.

Dennis Thurman was part of the Baltimore Ravens coaching staff from 2002 to 2007.

32.

Dennis Thurman was named defensive backs coach upon the hiring of Rex Ryan as head coach of the Jets.

33.

Under Dennis Thurman's coaching, Revis was described as "one of the best" corners in the league.

34.

Dennis Thurman was named Defensive Coordinator prior to the 2013 season.

35.

Dennis Thurman's defense was sixth in the league in his final season in New York, allowing 327.2 yards per game.

36.

On January 15,2015, Dennis Thurman was hired by new head coach Rex Ryan to serve as the defensive coordinator.

37.

In October 2018, Dennis Thurman was named defensive coordinator for the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football.

38.

On January 19,2024, the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warrior football team announced that Dennis Thurman was hired as defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach.

39.

Dennis Thurman is the older brother of Ulysses "Junior" Dennis Thurman, who attended Santa Monica High School and the University of Southern California.

40.

Dennis Thurman played defensive back in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints.